USA > Michigan > Jackson County > Jackson > Minutes of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1918 > Part 5
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Transfer. The transfer into the Conference of Richard W. Bell, an Elder from the North Minnesota Conference, was announced by the Bishop.
Assistant Transportation Secretaries. R. C. Lord filed a list of as- sistants to the Secretary of Transportation. (See List of Conference Officers.) .
Special Committee on Church Location. W. H. Phelps asked for the appointment of a special committee to locate the Eaton church on the Lansing District. R. J. Slee, P. R. Norton and J. B. Pinckard were named as such committee.
Transfers of Church Property Authorized. The request of R. E. Meader that he be authorized to make an equitable exchange in connection with the Thompsonville church was granted. On motion of M. W. Duffey, C. S. Wheeler was also given authority to carry through pending negotiations, making any necessary adjustments and transfer of property.
Particulars Called For. On Motion of L. E. Lennox the Treasurer of Clark Home was asked to furnish the items making up the totals desig- nated "Miscellaneous" and "Special" in his annual report to the Secretary for publication in the Minutes this year.
Adjournment. On motion of W. I. Cogshall the Conference voted to adjourn after the reading of the Journal, the conducting of devotion and the reading of the appointments.
Special Offering. At the request of R. E. Meader a special collection of $106 was taken in relief of certain cases of need on the Grand Traverse District.
Closing Services. The Journal was read and approved, hymn No. 389, "Sow in the Morn Thy Seed," was sung, the Bishop offered prayer and addressed the Conference, the appointments were read and the Conference stood adjourned sine die, with the benediction by the Bishop.
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The foregoing is a correct and official record of the proceedings of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the session of 1918.
Jos + Berry
President.
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Secretary.
ANNIVERSARIES, SPECIAL SERVICES AND SUNDAY SERVICES.
The music for the sessions was furnished by the choir of the First Methodist Church of Jackson, assisted by the Conference Francis Asbury male quartet .:
Tuesday, September 10.
7:30 p. m. Dr. P. J. Maveety, Corresponding Secretary of the Freed- men's Aid Society, spoke on the subject, "Racial Group Problems in a Democracy."
Wednesday, September 11.
In the afternoon Rev. E. C. Tuller, D. D., of the General Deaconess Board, represented the work of that Board. Following this Dr. George Elliott gave the first of a series of Conference lectures, his subject being "Religion and Politics." In the evening Dr. S. J. Greenfield, of Chicago, gave the Conference Claimants Anniversary address.
Thursday, September 12. Centenary Day.
The morning session was largely given to the speakers for the Mis- sionary Centenary as reported in the Conference proceedings. In the after- noon Dr. Elliott gave the second of his Conference lectures on the subject, "The Larger Patriotism." In the evening Dr. Rockwell Clancy, of India, and Dr. B. N. Tipple spoke again for the Centenary, and Dr. J. R. Henry, of the Church of All Nations of New York City, gave his illustrated Cen- tenary address, "Making Democracy Safe For the World." By request Dr. Rockwell Clancy's father sang, "We've Sighted the Golden Gates."
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Friday, September 13.
In the afternoon Mrs. Clement Smith presided, and Miss Charlotte H. Hoffman, of Aligahr, India, spoke on conditions in that country. Follow- ing this Dr. Elliot gave the third of the Conference lectures, "The Coming American." In the evening W. J. McKone, President of the Methodist Union, of Jackson, presided, and Dr. M. S. Rice, of Detroit, delivered his lecture, "Carry On, America." The music for this evening was furnished by a union choir of all the Methodist choirs of the city.
Saturday, September 14.
Mrs. Grace H. Peck, Conference President of the W. H. M. S., presided in the afternoon, and Miss Carrie Barge, of Delaware, Ohio, gave the address. Following that, the Minister's Wives Association were tendered a reception and held their annual meeting at the residence of Mrs. J. B. Foote.
At four o'clock, Dr. Elliott gave the last of his series of addresses, speaking on "The Missionary Nation."
In the evening, the Educational Anniversary was held and the address given by the Rev. H. Lester Smith, of Detroit.
Sunday, September 15.
The Conference Lovefeast at 9:00 a. m., was led by John Graham. Following. Bishop Berry preached on "The Supreme Saviourship of Jesus Christ" from John 6:67.
At 3:00 p. m., the annual 'Memorial service was held. W. M. Puffer presided. M. D. Carrel read the scripture, prayer was offered by A. H. Coors, and the Memorial Address was given by M. L. Fox.
At 4:00, Bishop Berry held the service for Ordination of Deacons and Elders, and Consecration of Deaconesses.
In the evening, Dr. Edgar Blake, Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Sunday Schools spoke on "The Wartime Decline in Our Sunday Schools."
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REPORTS.
REPORTS OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS. (Abbreviated.)
ALBION DISTRICT.
Hugh Kennedy, Superintendent.
The Methodists of this district have performed their full share in all the Patriotic drives, and conspicuous in the leadership of these drives has been the Methodist preacher and layman. The response of our people to our own War Work Fund has been most generous, amounting to over two thousand dollars.
Up to July the First 213 members of the Church, 161 members of the Epworth League and 494 members of the Sunday School were serving under the flag across the water, out on the seas or in the training camps. Since President Wilson declareed that a state of war existed between the Imperial German govern- ment and the United States nine pastors of the district have donned the uniform and responded to the call of the colors.
Death has visited three homes in our ranks. On Good Friday, Wesley I. Dorris, son of Rev. J. C. Dorris died in the strength of young manhood. Rev. J. W. Davids, a retired member of the conference passed to his reward after a long illness, Feb. 7, 1918. Rev. J. F. Orwick, in the midst of a signally successful pastorate at Camden, was called from labor to rest on Saturday evening, August the third.
We are pleased to report that Dr. W. W. Diehl has so completely recovered from his long and serious illness. Both daughters of Rev A. S. Williams have been critically ill during the year. Rev. L. B. Kenyon had a nervous breakdown in the early spring. D. C. Riehl was stricken in the middle of the year and for weeks his life was despaired of and while he is much improved in health still it seems wise that he ask at your hands a place on the honored retired list, and so after forty-two years of service he steps out of the effective ranks.
We had an unusually large number of changes in the pastorate during the year as so many men have entered War Work. F. W. Nickel resigned Hanover charge in November and J. W. Rochelle has had a splendid time seeing people converted and the improvements on the Moscow church come toward completion. II. A. Crumb com- pleted his course in Albion College and entered Garrett the second semester, the work at Cooper St. has been ably cared for by I. U. Riddick, a retired member of the Con- ference. . David Cruden serving the federated churches at Eekford charge resigned the first of June. and Prof. John Zedler has finished the year in a most satisfactory manner. Grorge A. Critchett was called to the work of a Camp pastor and is now on his way to India to work under the Y. N. C. A. among the British soldiers in Mesopotamia. W. J. C. Belch of Detroit conference was transferred to Reading and has a fine half year. Theron Jenne on account of throat diffeulty was compelled to resign the pastorate of Jerome and Somerset Center, William Helrigle was secured and when just getting nicely started Uncle Sam laid hands on him and he is at Camp Custer. The charge was combined with Liberty and looked after by R. W. Larencc. Stanley Miles of Horton entered the army and the work has been cared for by Sidney Francis in connection with his work at Spring Arbor. Dr. Lacy, pastor of this church,
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has been for a few weeks in the training school for chaplains at Camp Taylor in Kentucky.
Albion College has had a good year notwithstanding that so many of her sons have taken places in the ranks of the army. The outlook for this year in point of attendance is fine under the new war regime. You will he glad to know that Presi- dent Dickie is improving and a permanent recovery seems certain.
The usual district gatherings-that is the W. H. M. S., W. F. M. S., Epworth League, Eaton Rapids and Quincy campmeetings were held with larger attendance than one year ago, and with as much interest and helpfulness, notwithstanding the fact that we are at war. The spring meeting of the preachers and laymen was divided into three sections and was the active launching of the Christlan Steward- ship campaign on the district. Dr. Ralph S. Cushman was at all three gatherings. There are at present ahout 1000 enrolled tithers on the district. The story of this campaign is one of the most heartening that has come to this superintendent in his four years on the district. Plans are being laid for pushing the campaign this eoming year.
The State Epworth League Institute at Albion more than met the expectations of the leaders hoth in point of attendance and in the richness of the program, and in the training for leadership. There have heen 23 Bible study classes with 206 en- rolled members, and 21 Mission study classes with an enrollment of 217.
With things in general in such an unsettled condition it has been the policy of the year to pay off indebtedness and to he very careful in contracting new obligations. The following charges have wiped out indchtedness. Charlotte, $1,500, IIaven $200, Parma $100, Spring Arbor $130. Repairs were made on the district parsonage to the amount of some five hundred dollars. .
Improvements have been made amounting to $26,858. The two outstanding achievements in the line of church improvements are at Charlesworth and Eaton Rapids. At Charlesworth at an expense of $2,000 a small dilapidated country church was transformed into a building well adapted for the community, and a thing of beauty. Sunday, Oct. 7th was the dedicatory service. Drs. Diehl and Johns preached the Gospel with power, while the district superintendent handled the finances.
The change in the Eaton Rapids property has to be seen to be appreciated. The old lean-to chapel was taken away and a two-story annex was erected 90x35 feet, with a thorough renovating of the old building in the way of a new roofing, new windows of amher opalescent glass throughout, new electric chandeliers and walls frescoed in oil at an expense of $20,000.
The church building was crowded for all three services on dedicatory day Sun- day, June 23rd. Bishop Theodore S. Henderson preached hoth morning and evening Dr. C. B. Allen, that wizard of finance, mastered the whole proposition so well that he secured all the needed money in good individual pledges, thus leaving all societies of the church free to push aggressively the real work of the church for a wide com- munity service.
Two years ago the net gain in the Disciplinary benevolences was $1,808, last year the gain over the preceding year amounted to $2,232 and this year we will make another advance of about $1,800 as indicated by the report of the pastors. Those reporting the largest increases are Concord 200 per eent, First Church 80 per cent Haven 100 per cent, and Tekonsha 50 per cent each. Albion $300, Butler an in- crease of $100, Charlotte Circuit $39, Homer $385, Beatrice Isbell $149, Leslie $40, Ida Stiles $708, Charlotte $175, Hillsdale $100.
The work of Dr. Musser on the district will account for some of these gains.
While true that the severe cold weather and the shortage of fuel interfered very materially with the holding of special evangelistie campaigns, yet there have been some gracious seasons of grace, and some pastors and people have learned that there are other methods of winning men and women to the Christ in addition to the old hut never outworn Revival meeting. Churches reporting a net increase in membership of ten or more are Charlotte 24, Eaton Rapids 10, Beatrice Isbell 56, First 69, Green- wood Ave. 10, Haven 58, Jonesville 26, Leslie 25, North Adams 11, Parma 26, Ida F. Stiles 24. More than six hundred have bowed at our alters seeking pardon for sins.
The plan of other years in holding all day community services out in the open
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country was continued with splendid results. Dr. Diehl was with us for ten days and as a result a number of thriving community betterment clubs are at work.
The cash salaries of the pastors has been slowly advanced, $486 in 1915, $1,234 in 1916, $2,390 last year and the claims of this year were $3,487 in advance of the preceding year. That would have been a notable advance before the days of this war but now it is so small in comparison with other lines of employment and other callings, that its smallness makes it very conspicuous. We are grateful that the lay- men are realizing more and more the need of a comfortable support for the worthy pastor.
BIG RAPIDS DISTRICT.
Clark S. Wheeler, Superintendent.
In parts of the district, we are on the heels of the lumber jack where the strug- gling and inefficient agriculture witnesses to the transition from the old lumber days. Sections of the country have been burnt over with all sorts of wild fire and fana- ticism. In Montcalm County there are ten-thousand Danes and nothing outside the Lutheran Church being done for them religiously. We have the tragedy of the cross roads town with three or four denominations wasting their energies in competition with each other. There are sections receiving no religious attention. We have the little struggling mission point with a mere pittance of Home Missionary appropria- tion. We have the rural problem.
We began the year with forty-eight charges manned by twenty-nine Conference men and nineteen Supply Pastors. Twenty of the charges are receiving help from the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension. The rigid economy, the spirit of devotion, the atmosphere of optomism, the consecration to a great task, as seen in some of these parsonages is worthy a place in the eleventh of Hebrews.
Last fall Dr. Diehl and the Superintendent did some intensive work in Isabella County and a few adjoining charges looking toward the organization of the Methodism of the county into a county unit. This county unit enables us to do team work with our forces, is meaning much, and as we progress with the program, will mean much more, to our work in that county.
The Area District Conferences at Mt. Pleasant and Big Rapids conducted by Bishop Henderson and his Staff were great events. The attendance of registered delegates, was the largest of any district in the Lower Peninsula.
In May a District Sunday School Institue was held at Reed City. This was conducted by Dr. Harry Wilson and his faculty from our Board of Sunday Schools, which was a success in every way.
Following the instructions of the National War Council of our Church we put on in May the Patriotic Drive for the Million Dollar Methodist War Fund. One hundred and one meetings were held simultaniously and $2,789 pledged for this special fund.
Considerable attention has been given to the Epworth League and young peoples' work. Seven group rallies were held in May. These were attended by the Area Superintendent Dr. Durgin, the District President Brother Large, and the District . Superintendent. The District Epworth League Institute held at Reed City the first three days of the Camp Meeting August 1-4 did some splendid work. The attendance was good. Dr. Durgin was present throughout.
The Reed City Camp Meeting was a great event. For thirty years this Camp Meeting has been an uplifting influence in the Methodism of Northern Michigan. In our leadership of this institution we have sought to enlarge its scope and in- crease its efficiency from scar to year. This year heroic things were done in exten- sive improvement of the property. The old tabernacle has been built over into a dor- mitory with twenty-six rooms where the attendants at the Camp can have clean and comfortable accommodations. A new tabernacle, octagon in shape, has been built on the hillside ampitheatre sacred with so many memories and traditions. These improve-
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ments represented an expenditure of $2,600 and this amount was covered with good subscriptions taken on the last Sunday under the leadership of Dr's. Allen and Musser of Detroit. The attendance was the largest in recent years. The program was ex- ceptionally strong. We have about 500 Indians in Isabella Co. The Government School at Mt. Pleasant is an important institution, taking the Indian boys and girls through the 8th grade studies and doing much for them in an industrial way. We have two Indian churches, the Bradley church on the Leaton Charge and the Chippewa church on the Rosebush work with a membership of about 150.
Brother Benedict held a Camp Meeting for the Indians in the grove of the Chippewa church. Indians were there from all over the State. There were many conversions and the meeting was a great uplift to the churches.
Nearly every charge has done something in debt raising or property improve- ments. The spirit or evangelism has been fostered. Faithful work in soul winning has been done and there have been reported to me 575 decisions for Christ during the year.
We will make a good showing in the Benevolences. With war prices and war taxes, calls for the Red Cross and Army Y. M. C. A. and special drives for special funds we had some apprehension but wherever the Disciplinary Plan is worked with any degree of diligence and persistency our Benevolences have been creditably cared for.
, February 21st, Wm. Gumser resigned from the Winn charge. Since the latter part of June, LeRoy Whitney of Mt. Pleasant has acceptably supplied the charge.
March 1st, on account of ill health, E. T. Smith resigned from the Edmore work. A much needed rest was taken, resulting in restoration of health and Brother Smith . will report for work at this Conference. Edmore has been efficiently cared for by . Brothers Bray and Showerman.
On March 12th, following an operation a few days previous, D. E. Wade, pastor at Pierson and Sand Lake, went to his reward.
Sister Wade and her son Jay cared for the work until July 15th. Brother E. T. Smith spent the last four weeks on the charge, closing up the work and preparing the reports for Conference.
April 16th, we buried the mortal form of Norman Anger. Brother Anger served as a supply on the district until failing health compelled him to relinquish his chosen and loved work. He was a young man of such promise-a rare and beauti- ful spirit.
August 28th, Elizabeth Jane, wife of our honored and much loved Nicholas L. Bray, after years of invalidism and patient suffering passed triumphantly beyond the sunset.
We are living in tremendous and awful times. There is a constant stream of our young manhood going to the colors. The Methodist Churches and Sunday Schools on the Big Rapids District have 927 stars on their service flags and on eleven charges 16 blue stars have been transfigured into gold stars. Perhaps never before have we had such a keen appreciation of values and never before was the word service written in such large letters.
GRAND RAPIDS DISTRICT.
John C. Floyd, Superintendent.
More than 1,000 conversions have been reported from the District, and nearly 1.000 accessions into preparatory church membership, and about 900 received into full membership.
Our church building and property improvement enterprises have been affected by the war, still we have made a total expenditure for building and improvement of nearly $10,000, mostly paid for.
Our people have most of them been loyal to the Kingdom business this year. They have responded to every call the country has made upon them for service and
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money up to their full share, buying Liberty Bonds, giving to the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. work, and contributing nearly $5,000 to our own war work call, and yet in spite of these unusual demands upon their pocketbooks, they have shown their love for Christ and his Cburch by larger contributions to the local church budget and larger offerings to the benevolences than ever before. Every year of the past four our District has gone up the hill in offerings to local church budget and benevo- lences, but in this year of unusual stress and strain upon us, our climb has been higher yet. We have fewer slackers in our District than in any previous year.
This war has made great sorrow in our Methodist homes. Almost every church has a service flag and the total stars representing our church constituency are more than 1,500, and that is above our nation's average. Fifteen sons of our preachers have gone-all honor to them and to their parents who make such noble sacrifice. It is worth it, for no young men ever went forth on a holier crusade than these young men are setting their faces towards. It is with us a "holy war" in very deed and we shall not pause nor be discouraged until we have set righteousness in the earth.
Our people in all the better charges are using our Disciplinary Financial Plan, and whenever and wherever such a plan is heartily adopted by the officials who set themselves faithfully to working it, the rank and file of the Church follow and the plan goes, much to our joy. Our District Quarterly Settlement Day adopted four years ago has been a stimulus to prompt payments of church bills.
Special attention has been given by the Superintendent to the rural church communities and our Community Betterment days are becoming a fixture and prov- ing greatly helpful in arousing a Community consciousness and a Community spirit. Dr. Diehl was a great help to us in an itinerary he made on the District organizing several Community Betterment Clubs.
Dr. Stair did very valuable work in helping promote our Sunday School in- terests in many local charges, while the Institute put up by the Board of Sunday Schools was the biggest and best of the three so far held. Dr. Durgin has been a sane and helpful counsellor among our young people, and loyal to all our work and true blue in every way. Dr. Musser and Dr. Clancy have both made itineraries on our District and have left the cause of World Evangelism as a burning pur- pose in many hearts.
Our pastors entered upon the war work campaign with zeal and devotion so that in a single week's time every preaching place on my District was visited by a War Work Team of inspirational speakers promoting patriotism and securing con- tributions which aggregated nearly $5,000 to our War Work Fund.
Our pastors have given their time and services without stint, and have been among tbe foremost leaders in helping to make successful every war drive through- out the year and in suppressing pro-German sentiment, and in keeping the "home fires burning."
The war has made heavy inroads upon our ministry, and taken our preachers for soldiers in the ranks and for chaplains and other war work, so that we face a serious shortage in preachers this year. It may be necessary to follow the example of business firms and otber industries and employ women to take the place of men who have gone to war.
Death has not broken our ranks this year, but sickness has invaded our homes and death has come to two homes.
Not long following the Conference session, but long enough for Brother Jerrett to get so well started in his new field, and so intrenched in the affections of his people, that they were having much joy that he had come as their shepherd and spiritual guide, typhoid fever siezed upon the pastor and laid him low in a hospital for several weeks. Convalesence had only fairly begun when spinal meningitis fastened its fatal grip upon his oldest daughter and she was laid to rest in the cemetery. But the bitterness of it all was not over yet, for speedily Mrs. Jerrett came down with typhoid fever and for weeks lay upon her bed of sickness. The ready sympathy and financial aid from Brother Jerrett's people and from bis brother preachers and other outside friends proved that :
"We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear."
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After seventeen beautiful years of life, Floyd Bowerman, a loving and dutiful son, gentle and modest as a maiden was relieved from the suffering of a lingering disease which blighted his joyous life, and crushed his hope of a life of service. His parents bowed submissively to the Providence of the Graclous God.
Good health has been the Superintendent's portion sufficient to enable him to respond to every call for service made the year through for which he has been grateful to God, as well as for the joy of another year of work with loyal pastors, who have stood hy in cordial and hearty co-operation for the work of the Kingdom.
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